League-worst Wizards take down Heat 105-101 for 2nd win of season

WASHINGTON -- His feet soaking in a tub of ice, his eyes scanning a box score, LeBron James chuckled a bit at the notion that his Miami Heat might learn something from a surprising setback against the Washington Wizards.

"Nah, man, there's not no lesson. This ain't a lesson for us. We just lost," James explained. "We've seen and been through everything, so we don't need a loss to be like, 'Oh, let's catch ourselves.' It happens."

Not too many people figured this outcome would happen, though, a message Wizards coach Randy Wittman delivered to his players before their worst-in-the-NBA team went out and beat the Heat 105-101 on Tuesday night behind Jordan Crawford's 22 points — and despite James' triple-double of 26 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

Perhaps inspired by the courtside presence of Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, who exchanged a handshake with Cowboys fan James after the final buzzer, the Wizards doubled their victory total this season. The Wizards improved to 2-13, earning their second win in the past three games after starting a franchise-worst 0-12.

"I'm so happy for those guys," said Wittman, who called this perhaps the most satisfying victory of his coaching career.

He said he told his team beforehand: "The only people that think you have a chance tonight are the people here in this room ... We need to have a statement game."

And, Wittman continued, "I said, 'I've seen it a number of times, guys.' ... (People say), 'They ain't got a chance to win this game.' And that's what people were saying. We all listen. Could hear it on the street and all that. These guys, it bothers them."